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Canada’s First Aboriginal Food Guide was launched on Wednesday, April 11, 2007 in Yellowknife. Health Minister Tony Clement unveiled the first ever Canada Health Guide which includes traditional foods such as wild meats, game, fish, berries, wild plants and bannock. Practical items such as canned milk and frozen vegetables are also included to suit limited budgets and meet nutritional requirements.

Dene National Chief Bill Erasmus contributed to the development of the new guide through the Assembly of First Nations and for several years has been involved with CINE (Centre for Indigenous Peoples Nutrition and Environment) an organization that researches the integrity of indigenous traditional food systems. Chief Erasmus stated that, “Canada’s Aboriginal Food Guide is a good starting point, as proper nutrition is essential to good health and quality of life. What we do with it is important to improved health for Aboriginal People.”

Chief Erasmus goes on to say that, “A traditional lifestyle is a holistic way of living. We must be strong and connected spiritually, physically, mentally and emotionally to our People and our land that has sustained us from time immemorial. One great example is Caribou-hunting which involves the exercise of tracking, hunting, butchering and then finally enjoying the health benefits of the meal. Dene traditional ways of gathering food must be preserved as it has many benefits to individual, family and community.”

Canada’s Aboriginal Food Guide was developed by Health Canada in response to a high incidence of obesity and diabetes in Aboriginal communities. Dene National Chief Bill Erasmus believes that, “Traditional lifestyle and practises must be encouraged to improve our health; these practises include all demographic groups from the youngest member to the eldest.” “Now we need to sit down and make sure traditional foods are on our tables rather than just putting out a guide and expecting people to have caribou available.”

The National Chief concluded by emphasizing that, “"Our bodies are in tune with our foods and we know that we have to have food like caribou instilled in our diet, or it affects our system." Finally, “We must ensure that traditional foods are free of contaminants and do not create further health problems.”
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The Honourable Tony Clement, Minister of Health, and the Honourable Jim Prentice, Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development and Federal Interlocutor for Métis and Non-Status Indians, today launched the first ever national food guide for First Nations, Inuit and Métis - "Eating Well with Canada's Food Guide - First Nations Inuit and Métis."

"This is the first time that Canada's Food Guide has been tailored nationally to reflect the unique values, traditions and food choices of Aboriginal populations," said Minister Clement. "As a complement to the new 2007 version of Canada's Food Guide, this tailored food guide includes traditional food from the land and sea, and provides the best, most current information for eating well and living healthy."

"This new food guide for First Nations, Inuit and Métis is yet another example of how Canada's New Government is addressing the specific needs of Canada's Aboriginal people," said Minister Prentice. "This guide will be a valuable tool that will assist Aboriginal communities and Northerners in making informed healthy choices, while respecting their traditional way of life," added Minister Prentice.

Canada's Food Guide has been one of Canadians' most trusted sources of information for 65 years. Over the past three years, Health Canada has consulted approximately 7000 stakeholders including dietitians, scientists, physicians and public health personnel, in order to develop the new version of Canada's Food Guide released on February 5, 2007. National Aboriginal Organizations and intermediaries, such as nutrition professionals, confirmed their support for a nationally tailored First Nations, Inuit and Métis food guide and have been engaged at all stages of its development. In fact, more than 400 people were consulted over the past two years.

"We are happy to see that Canada's Food Guide has been tailored to meet the needs and considerations of Canada's First Nations," said National Chief Phil Fontaine of the Assembly of First Nations. "This new tailored guide is a positive step towards improving the health of First Nations peoples but we must continue to work with the government to improve access to affordable, healthy food, especially in remote and northern communities," added National Chief Fontaine.

"We are pleased to see 'country food' being recognized in the Canada Food Guide as an essential element of a nutritious diet for Inuit," commented Mary Simon, President of Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami. "Country food for Inuit includes caribou, Arctic Char, seal, whale, walrus, muskox, ptarmigan, and many other plants, animals, and fish. This Food Guide will be a useful tool to educate Inuit youth across the Arctic and in the South."

"On behalf of the Métis National Council, I would like to thank Health Canada for their clear recognition of and commitment to the health and well being of the Métis through the publication of "Eating Well with Canada's Food Guide - First Nations, Inuit and Métis," said Mr. Dale LeClair, Chief Administrative Officer, Métis National Council. "The Métis National Council shares Health Canada's commitment to good health and we will continue to work together to improve and maintain the health of the Métis nation."

For more information on Canada's Food Guide - First Nations, Inuit and Métis, please visit Health Canada's Web site http://www.healthcanada.gc.ca